Fourteen-year-old Jensi Kanabar scripted history at the J200 Astana Open in Kazakhstan, defeating Japan’s Natsuki Irokawa 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in a marathon final lasting two hours and 59 minutes.
The victory marked her third career title and maiden triumph at the J200 level.
The win will propel Kanabar 32 places up the world junior U-18 rankings to No. 70, guaranteeing her main-draw entry at all four junior Grand Slams in 2027. Reflecting on her performance, Jensi said, “Irokawa trapped me with angled shots in the second set, but I and my team devised a response for the decider.”
Her father, Dipak Kanabar, explained that Jensi countered Irokawa’s short angled shots by hitting deeper balls in the deciding set, showcasing her tactical maturity.
Kanabar’s path to the title included victories over South Korea’s Yeri Hong (6-4, 6-1), Latvia’s Keisija Berzina (6-4, 3-6, 7-5), and Japan’s Sakino Miyazawa (6-3, 6-3) in the semi-final. The sixth seed’s triumph highlights her growing resilience and strategic adaptability on the junior circuit.
